Growing up in Southern California in the days of the Hippies and Jesus Freaks, we saw a lot of signs and stickers with sayings like; ‘Peace’, ‘Make Love Not War’, ‘The End Is Near’, ‘Flower Power’ and ‘Repent’. Then one day, I saw one bumper sticker that had me laughing out loud in my car (decades before anyone knew what LOL meant!). That one bumper sticker has stayed in my mind all these years and to this day, I laugh when I think of it. It simply said “Jesus is Coming…Look Busy!”
Now, for all my Christian friends: Yes, I know that may be seen as a ‘vain’ use of the Lord’s name and I’m sure laughing at this is somehow a violation of the 3rd Commandment, but God has forgiven me so get over it. Besides, I’m reasonably certain He has a sense of humor; just look at the platypus…is that the work of a serious artist?
What’s REALLY funny though, is the profundity of truth contained within that simple text which the author no doubt intended as a disrespectful joke. I say it’s funny (in the ironic sense) because, using just five words, that sage jokester has described our day-to-day lives with remarkable clarity.
You see, most of us have a built-in sense of urgency about life. We may recognize this sense as the responsibility to care and provide for ourselves and for our families. Or, we may sense a need to leave our mark on society; in some way making a difference for a better world. Those of us with an eternal perspective often think about the return of Christ and feel the urgency to win others for His Kingdom. Sometimes, we Christians satiate that sense of urgency by working within the Church or other charitable organizations. Our communities and churches are full of 'busy' people.
Don’t get me wrong; all of these activities are honorable and vitally important; but what motivates us (whether we’re motivated by personal gain, or by recognition, or by a genuine concern for others, or for a closer relationship with Jesus) is what requires frequent and transparent self-examination, asking ourselves “Why am I doing this?” and listening for an honest answer.
Jesus IS coming. Are we really ready; or just looking busy? When He does come, does Jesus want to find you just keeping busy, or does He want to find you busied by a heart longing for His return? Our lives may look righteous because of all of our work, but is our heart fully devoted to, submitted to and purified by the righteousness and Lordship of Christ in those ways that only He can see? Knowing Jesus and striving to know him better, loving Jesus and wanting to love him more, yearning to please Jesus and be with Him more than anything else you can think of; THAT is what being ready is all about.
Jesus IS coming, but when? We could debate eschatology for years and never agree, but as interesting and important as that discussion can be, it really shouldn’t matter to how we live. It shouldn’t matter because being ready, really ready, expels ANY need to know when. Jesus may come for us all at any time or, He may just come for you or me when we least expect it.
This past week, we received news that a 19 year old friend of the family has been killed in an auto accident. This horrible event is every loving parent’s worst nightmare. It brings into sharp focus, the brevity and fragility of our existence on this planet. This fine young man’s death couldn’t have been more unexpected and was in no way his fault (he was a passenger). His is a strong and loving family. They are close-knit, hardworking and successful. The kids are well behaved and respectful, good students and gifted athletes. They are respected and liked in their schools, workplaces and community. Theirs is the kind of family we all admire and would never expect to experience a tragedy like this. Our hearts are wrenched with pain for them but, the truth is, it could happen to any one of us at any moment.
The ONLY way to live with any hope of a peaceful heart and spirit; the ONLY way we can ever hope to live without anxiety, fear or doubt, is to BE ready; to possess the knowledge and confidence that, should the Lord come today, or should tragedy come our way, we know with certainty that we ARE going with Him, welcomed into His loving arms.
Jesus IS coming! Are YOU ready, or just looking busy?
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come...So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Matthew 24:42,44 (NIV84)
PDS
16-JAN-2013
Showing posts with label tragedy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tragedy. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
WHY?!
I recently heard someone say that, when we have trouble in our lives, it's because we aren't walking right with God.
Now, while this may SOMETIMES be true, it just as often is not; and we in the Church need to understand, proclaim and protect this distinction, without equivocation or apology; we need to exercise a true compassion, lovingly share in their burden (1 Cor 12:26) and quit repeating the sin of Job's "friends" by using other people's suffering as an excuse for judging their faith and walk.
I am reminded of John 9:1-3, As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."
This gets me thinking about some things, one of which is the "WHY?!" we all experience when, as believers, we (or someone we love) suffer some manner of harm, hurt, loss or tragedy. We want to know, sometimes even demanding from God, "WHY?!" He would allow such things when we, as faulty as we are, try so hard to be faithful and live right?
While we may not receive the answer we so desperately seek (at least in this lifetime), I have observed over the years, a recurring theme, that illustrates the very real and practical truth of what Jesus told his disciples.
I'll explain by way of example.
Back in the eighties, someone very close to me was raped. She wrestled and agonized with the "WHY?!" for years. One day, when she was crying out "WHY?!", someone who loves her told her that she was allowed to experience this awful, horrible violation, so that she would be able to minister to others who have experienced similar pain, in a way that only someone who has known that pain ever could. She listened, but was only nominally comforted by this.
Some months later, after counseling with her pastor, she was blessed with the miraculous ability to truly forgive her attackers and from there, she began to grow rapidly in her faith, with a heart more peaceful than she could have imagined.
A couple years later, she was attending a fund-raising event for a local crisis pregnancy center, when she was struck powerfully with the calling that she belonged in that ministry. She began first as a volunteer peer-counselor, where she was able to openly share about her experience, comforting hurting women and girls; sharing the Word of our Lord freely and experiencing the joy of having some of them come back months later, bringing their new babies to share with her!
The healing she experienced in this ministry was beyond words and surpassed in significance only by the lives changed through it.
After some time, she was asked to take the lead in developing, coordinating and presenting a new Abstinence Education program for the center, to take into the local schools, churches and community youth programs. She was NEVER a person that could speak in so much as a room full of friends without getting nervous, but God empowered and nurtured her abilities to become an effective and passionate speaker, presenting her testimony to groups both large (hundreds) and small.
(On a side note: she learned through her counseling that one of the first places we NEED abstinence education is in our churches. An alarming number of the teenagers that came to the center were from active Christian homes and were active in their church's youth programs. Some were even pastor's kids. But, many of the churches blindly, pridefully rejected the program as "unnecessary". Anyway...back to the story.)
Word of her powerful, presentation spread rapidly and soon she was invited to speak all over Southern California, at community (troubled) youth programs, Native American/Tribal youth programs and even some public high schools and "continuation" high schools for the violent and legally troubled students (an amazing and providential feat, in the fiercely liberal and anti-Christian public school systems of California).
Some of these places and groups were so rough that she was provided armed security during her visits! Yet, even from the toughest, gang-infested audiences, she would often have girls (and sometimes even guys) come to her afterward and share horrific, heart-wrenching stories, tearfully exclaiming their longing to regain their "purity" and get right with God.
You see, God had built a powerful and effective ministry out of that pain; A modern-day repetition of "What man has intended for evil, God has used for good" (Genesis 50:20, PerryPhrased).
So, while God does indeed use painful, even tragic events to rattle our cage and get us back on track when we stray, it does not always mean that pain or difficulty in our lives is the result of our personal sin or faithlessness.
Sometimes, when it just doesn't make any sense, the best thing we can do is to trust Romans 8:28 more than we trust our own understanding: "And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV, emphasis mine)
Now, while this may SOMETIMES be true, it just as often is not; and we in the Church need to understand, proclaim and protect this distinction, without equivocation or apology; we need to exercise a true compassion, lovingly share in their burden (1 Cor 12:26) and quit repeating the sin of Job's "friends" by using other people's suffering as an excuse for judging their faith and walk.
I am reminded of John 9:1-3, As he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life."
This gets me thinking about some things, one of which is the "WHY?!" we all experience when, as believers, we (or someone we love) suffer some manner of harm, hurt, loss or tragedy. We want to know, sometimes even demanding from God, "WHY?!" He would allow such things when we, as faulty as we are, try so hard to be faithful and live right?
While we may not receive the answer we so desperately seek (at least in this lifetime), I have observed over the years, a recurring theme, that illustrates the very real and practical truth of what Jesus told his disciples.
I'll explain by way of example.
Back in the eighties, someone very close to me was raped. She wrestled and agonized with the "WHY?!" for years. One day, when she was crying out "WHY?!", someone who loves her told her that she was allowed to experience this awful, horrible violation, so that she would be able to minister to others who have experienced similar pain, in a way that only someone who has known that pain ever could. She listened, but was only nominally comforted by this.
Some months later, after counseling with her pastor, she was blessed with the miraculous ability to truly forgive her attackers and from there, she began to grow rapidly in her faith, with a heart more peaceful than she could have imagined.
A couple years later, she was attending a fund-raising event for a local crisis pregnancy center, when she was struck powerfully with the calling that she belonged in that ministry. She began first as a volunteer peer-counselor, where she was able to openly share about her experience, comforting hurting women and girls; sharing the Word of our Lord freely and experiencing the joy of having some of them come back months later, bringing their new babies to share with her!
The healing she experienced in this ministry was beyond words and surpassed in significance only by the lives changed through it.
After some time, she was asked to take the lead in developing, coordinating and presenting a new Abstinence Education program for the center, to take into the local schools, churches and community youth programs. She was NEVER a person that could speak in so much as a room full of friends without getting nervous, but God empowered and nurtured her abilities to become an effective and passionate speaker, presenting her testimony to groups both large (hundreds) and small.
(On a side note: she learned through her counseling that one of the first places we NEED abstinence education is in our churches. An alarming number of the teenagers that came to the center were from active Christian homes and were active in their church's youth programs. Some were even pastor's kids. But, many of the churches blindly, pridefully rejected the program as "unnecessary". Anyway...back to the story.)
Word of her powerful, presentation spread rapidly and soon she was invited to speak all over Southern California, at community (troubled) youth programs, Native American/Tribal youth programs and even some public high schools and "continuation" high schools for the violent and legally troubled students (an amazing and providential feat, in the fiercely liberal and anti-Christian public school systems of California).
Some of these places and groups were so rough that she was provided armed security during her visits! Yet, even from the toughest, gang-infested audiences, she would often have girls (and sometimes even guys) come to her afterward and share horrific, heart-wrenching stories, tearfully exclaiming their longing to regain their "purity" and get right with God.
You see, God had built a powerful and effective ministry out of that pain; A modern-day repetition of "What man has intended for evil, God has used for good" (Genesis 50:20, PerryPhrased).
So, while God does indeed use painful, even tragic events to rattle our cage and get us back on track when we stray, it does not always mean that pain or difficulty in our lives is the result of our personal sin or faithlessness.
Sometimes, when it just doesn't make any sense, the best thing we can do is to trust Romans 8:28 more than we trust our own understanding: "And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV, emphasis mine)
I hope and pray that this story helps and encourages someone today.
Blessings!
Perry
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)